Towed by Toad
Toad is a helpful friend to all, always ready to hop to the rescue in his trusty tow truck when animals have vehicle trouble. When Stanley Snout’s engine falls out, Toad is there. When Davey Dog hit a log, who else would he call but Toad? Playful text and illustrations with creative use of rhyme sprinkled in will have readers smiling as they ride along with Toad in his truck. Sometimes, however, even the helpers need some help. Check out this book to find out what happens when our friend Toad faces a challenge on the road!
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
When Toad needed help, he became frustrated and kicked his tow truck, hurting his foot. What are some ways we can calm ourselves when we are frustrated? Practice simple mindful breathing activities that can help both children and adults in times of frustration and stress. Additionally, in the story, Catie Cat has a flat. Mayor Hop forgot to stop. Children can have fun with language by creating some more characters on the road. Adults can provider sentence starters that children can finish to create a silly rhyme, such as “Barry Bear… (got lost over there).”
Prior to reading, adults can talk with children about the job of a tow truck, and the important service that Toad and his dad provide to their community. While reading, adults can emphasize the rhyme and rhythm of the story by reading with expression and matching their tone to what is happening in the story. When debriefing the book after reading, talk with children about what happened when Toad, who was always helping others, needed a helping hand. Adults can help children make connections to whom they would reach out to for help when needed.